Triple decapitation: Man accused of killing parents, family dog in California

Law enforcement in Southern California said they discovered a horrific scene inside a home after a 41-year-old man allegedly decapitated his senior parents and the family's dog.

The suspect was shot by an Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy not long after officers responded to the bloody scene on July 10, the agency is reporting. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition and was recently booked into jail on two counts of homicide, a jail spokesperson told USA TODAY Thursday.

According to the sheriff's office, the double homicide took place in the city of San Juan Capistrano, about 10 miles southeast of Laguna Beach.

Officials identified the victims as Antoinette Gerdvil, 79, and Tonald Walter Gerdvil, 77, both of San Juan Capistrano.

They identified the suspect, their son, as 41-year-old Joseph Brandon Gerdvil.

The couple's son, according to information from investigators, lived in a double-wide mobile home with his parents, prior to their gruesome slaying.

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'A horrific scene'

Just before 7:35 a.m. on July 9, 2024, deputies responded to a report of a domestic assault at the home, and located "a horrific scene which included the decapitated and mutilated bodies of Ronald and Antoinette Gerdvil.

Deputies also reported they found a decapitated dog belonging to the married couple.

Timeline of double decapitation slaying and deputy shooting

Here is what officials reported transpired after deputies discovered the victims:

7:42 a.m. − Dispatch notified deputies on scene "a bloody male was chasing a maintenance worker in the same community." Shortly after dispatch relayed to deputies "the bloody male stole the maintenance worker’s golf cart and left the area in an unknown direction."   

7:51 a.m. − A sheriff’s Community Services Officer located the bloody male driving the golf cart near a bike trail exit about a mile-and-a-half northeast of the mobile home community.

7:52 a.m. − A deputy who responded to the initial scene of the double homicide arrived to an area near the bike trail, "contacted the suspect" and "a deputy-involved shooting occurred." 

Officials have not released how many times the deputy fired their service weapon, what caused the deputy to open fire on the suspect or where the suspect was shot.

The name of the deputy has also not been released.

USA TODAY has reached out to the sheriff's office.

On the agency's Facebook page, Sheriff Don Barnes called the crime scene “a very difficult and complex scene for our responding deputies, investigators, Crime Lab personnel and coroners. I am grateful for their dedicated professionalism as they work toward seeking justice for Antoinette and Ronald Gerdvil.”

Joseph Gerdvil booked into Orange County jail on homicide charges

Deputies rendered medical aid to the suspect until the Orange County Fire Authority arrived and transported him to hospital, where as of earlier this week he was in stable condition, officials said.

A sheriff's office spokesperson told USA TODAY the suspect was booked into the county jail July 13 on two counts of homicide where he remained jailed without bond Thursday.

It was not immediately known if he had obtained an attorney or when he is due in court.

Additional charges are pending in the case, officials said.

Anyone with information related to the homicide is asked to contact the sheriff's office.

If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone suffering from it, TheNational Domestic Violence Hotline allows you to speak confidentially with trained advocates online or by the phone, which they recommend for those who think their online activity is being monitored by their abuser (800-799-7233). They can help survivors develop a plan to achieve safety for themselves and their children.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.